New York Mets need to find a trade partner for Jay Bruce

In order for the New York Mets to move forward, they need to find a trade for outfielder Jay Bruce.

When the New York Mets brought back Jay Bruce on a three year contract this offseason, the move made sense. Bruce would, in theory, pair with Yoenis Cespedes to give the Mets a solid 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup. Michael Conforto was not exactly a given, and Brandon Nimmo was a gigantic question mark.

It is amazing how much can change over a season. Now, Nimmo looks like a solid piece for the Mets future, a possible building block to pair with Conforto in the outfield. Cespedes, while injured, will be back for the second half of 2019. If nothing else, the Mets potential outfield would have Cespedes and Conforto in left and right, with Nimmo as the perfect fourth outfielder, capable of playing any of those three positions. That alignment, however, would push Bruce out of a place in the lineup, even if he was to get some time at first.

At best, Bruce would likely serve as a fourth outfielder/backup first baseman in 2019. While he would be a solid option in such a role, the problem is that the Mets owe him $28 million over the next two seasons. For a team that does have payroll concerns, primarily due to the Wilpon’s poor investment choices, that is a lot of money to spend on a player who may not see the field every day.

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With the Mets expectations that they will contend in 2019, and a number of holes on the roster, it is time to move on from Bruce again. It would almost be a given that he would pass through waivers, as he is currently injured and has a sizable contract. And yet, even a move via waivers, or this offseason, could be a difficult sell.

First, Bruce has a no trade clause to five different teams – Baltimore, Oakland, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. In reality, that may not be too much of a determent, as none of those teams would be likely to want to take on his salary, unless there was another player or a prospect involved.

Then there is the matter of Bruce’s production, or lack thereof, this season. When he has managed to be on the field, he has been less than impressive, posting a .212/.292/.321 batting line, hitting three homers and 12 doubles in his 236 plate appearances.

Even with those difficulties, it could be possible for the Mets to trade the former All Star. They could cover a portion of his salary in order to get a viable piece in return. Or, it is possible that Bruce could be traded in a swap of bad contracts. As Joel Sherman pointed out, even swapping bad contracts could get the Mets a piece that they need.

In an ideal world, the Mets could even keep Bruce as an insurance policy. Neither Cespedes nor Conforto have been bastions of durability and health. Bruce, despite his injury problems this season, had averaged 151 games since 2010. There would be a role for him on the 2019 Mets, especially at the start of the season until Cespedes returns from his heel surgery, but it would not be the best use of the Mets financial resources.

The New York Mets need to find a trade partner for Jay Bruce. That may well be easier said then done.